LIFE AT "MINNIE'S LAND" 225 



same scale as his Birds of Europe, but improved in execution 

 — two parts are out: it is to be published every three months. 

 I sent off a letter this day to your Edinburgh friend M''- Mac- 

 Gillivray — ^he is a candidate for the Professorship of Natural 

 History in the Marischall College of Aberdeen and wrote to 

 ask me for a testimonial of recommendation — this was the 

 object of my letter to him. — My second volume of the British 

 Birds will be complete in July next, I will send it to you in 

 one lump. Pray remember me to your good lady and thank 

 your son Victoire for me for his letter. I hope you are all well, 

 and with best wishes for a continuance to you of all that is 

 good — I remain very sincerely yours 



W™' Yaeeell. 

 J. J. AuDtJBON Esq"" 



New York — 



Spencer Baird and his brother, William, were soon 

 able to announce another discovery, now well known 

 the country over as the Least Flycatcher, and in some 

 sections by the onomatopceic name of Chebec. In refer- 

 ring to it in his letter of June 21, 1841, Baird wrote: 



There is one flycatcher respecting which we are in doubt, 

 and which was very abundant this spring. It is the one we had 

 considered M. PusiUa but a thorough examination of the Biog- 

 raphy, has thrown doubt on this supposition, it agrees pretty 

 well with the M. Acadica of Nuttall, but not with the Acadica, 

 of the Synopsis. I will send you one as soon as possible, as 

 there is no set of Plates in Carlisle to which we might refer. 



In conclusion Baird added: "May we not expect to 

 see you in Carlisle before a great while? It would give 

 us very great pleasure indeed." 



Though Audubon gladly admitted this new-found 

 species of bird at a later day, he was not at first dis- 



